Portable turntable



2 SheetSI-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY c. 1'. 'roPPlNG PORTABLE TURNTABLE original Filed June 2:5, 1919A www.

Jan. 15 1924.

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c. T.TOPP|NG PORTABLE TURNTABLE original Filed June 23. 191,9

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l 7H 26'@ vha o o o ko o" I INVENTR @n 1/ i Patented Jan. l5, 1924.

Laaste PATENT QFFCE.

A CHARLES T. TOPPING, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTABLE TURNTABLE.

Application led .Tune 23, 1919, Serial No. 306,057. Renewed .Tune 14, 1923.

To all ywhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. TOPPING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Turntables, `of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to turn tables for turning vehicles around a fixed center, and its object is to provide an apparatus of this kind which may be moved from place to place. More specifically its object is to provide a turntable which is adapted for use on a road way, and which meets the need of road builders for a device for turning their trucks and other apparatus around in a `small space. Another object is to provide a simple light, inexpensive and eliicient construction for turn tables. A still further object is to provide actuating mechanism for the turn table which may be driven by the power of a self-propelled vehicle such as a motor truck.

These and other objects of the invention will appear vin the following specification in which I will describe the invention, the novel features of which will be set forth in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus which is made according to and embodies this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale of one end of one of the platform members and a runway therefor.

Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation of one of the platform members, the section in this figure being taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a part of the base and the plat-form supporting frame.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the parts s hown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevation of one end of the apparatus showing the actuating mechanism.

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of the parts in the center of the apparatus.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all figures of the drawings. Y

The apparatus is supported upon the base which comprises a central section 10 and two side sections 11l and 12, which are connected with the central section by hingelike members 13 which have removable pins so that these parts may be readily taken apart. The ends of these base sections are curved upwardly as shown at 14 in Figure 6 to facilitate dragging the apparatus over the ground. On these base sections are tracks 15 which together form a complete circle. In the center of these tracks and affixed to the base section 10 is a pivot pin 16.

A hub 2O is rotatively mounted on the pivot pin and affixed to this hub is a center plate 21. Radius arms 22 are bolted to the center plate. There arek four pairs of these arms and the ends of the arms of each pair are joined by an L-bar 23 connectedwith the arms by riveted plates 24. The ends of the bar 23 are bent to be at right angles to arms 22. Y

A journal member of strap metal is flexibly connected with each bent end with each bar as follows:

Each journal member comprises an end 25 and spaced parallel sides 26 between which is a roller 27, a bolt 28 passes through the vertical flange of bar 23 through the parallel sides 26 and through the roller. This serves to hold the journal member on to the bar 23 and forms a journal for the roller which, as `may be seen, is directly over the track 15. These vsides 26 are bent as shown to form two extensions 29.

Two channel bars 30 with their flanges faced apartvare riveted to each of these extensions 29, and 'serveto connect radjacent journal members. Between the channel bars of each pair are spacing washers 31, through which pass bolts or rivets 32. Thus astrong but somewhat flexible rotary frame is formed. j

'There are two platform structures resting in parallel relations upon this rotary frame. These each comprise two side plates 4() with angle irons 41 riveted to their upper parts to stiften them, intermediate plates 43, side bea-ms 44, intermediate beams 45, blocks 46 and bolts 47, which pass through these parts transversely to hold them together. The intermediate beams are notched as at 48 to prevent the-blocks from Q 1 es rotating, and spaces 49 are left between thc blocks through which dirt, water or any eX- traneous matter may fall.

Runways at the ends of the platform coinprise a plurality of plates 5() in alinement with the plates and 43, beams 5l and through bolts 52. Brackets 53 are riveted to the sides of the plates 40 and 43 and the plates extend in between these brackets andare connected therewith by bolt-s 54. This arrangement is such that the runways are pivotally supported so that vthey will rest on the vground or may be raised up from the ground when desired.

The intermediate beams of one of the platforms are cut away at 55 to make room for rollers which are affixed to transverse shafts 6l which project beyond one of the side plates 40, and have grooved sheaves 62 affixed tothem. A rope or cable 63 is wrapped around the sheaves. lt then passes over tension `pulleys 6e on a lever 65 which is pivotedA at 66 to a bracket 67 affixed to the edge of the platform, under guide pulleys68 on the same bracket and then around the web of the track l5. A pivoted controlled lever is connected to lever 65 in such a way that when it is depressed the tension pulleys 64 are raised and the .cable is tightened.

70 is a bracket atiiXed to and extending from one -of the bars 23 and 7l are angle irons aflixed to and extending below the corners of adjacent journal members. A brake lever 72 is pivoted to the bracket 70 at 73 and near its lower cud is afhxed a cable 74 which passes through holes in the angle irons 7l and also extends around the web of track l5.

I will now describe the operation of this apparatus. It may be dragged over the ground in its assembled condition to the desired place or it may be disassembled and then set up where it is to be used. Its parts are so made that they may be easily taken apart and put together again at will. The two platforms rest upon the rotary frame in parallel relation, spaced apart the desired distance to accommodate the tread of the wheels of the vehicle which are to be used on it. These platforms may be secured to the rotary frame by any desired means such for example. as hook-bolts 33 which pass between the channel bars 30 and engage the washers 31. Now a vehicle may be run onto the platforms, its wheels going up the runways. Its weight will then be supported on the rollers 27 on the track l5. In this position the vehicle may be turned around by rotating the frame and platforms. Its rotation may be stopped by moving the brake leverv 72 in the direction of rotation which will cause the cables 7 4 to drag on the sides or web of the rail l5.

lf the vehicle is a self-propelled one its power may be used to rotate the turntable. This is done by moving it to such a position that one of its power driven wheels as indicated by the dotted lines 75 in Figure 6 rests upon the rollers 62. Now when the vehicle wheel 75 is rotated, its rotation will be transmitted to the sheaves 62. An operator may then depress lever 69 to tighten cable 63 more or less ,and thus cause this cable to pull the turntable around. Releasing lever 69 and actuating brake lever 72 will bring the parts to rest.

The linvention upon which this application is based, is broader than the specific embodiment thereof which for illustrative purposes has been shown and described, and I intend no'limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

Vhat l claim is:

l. A portable turntable comprising a base of thin flat materialV adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track; a rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, rollers journaled on the frame over the track and a platform resting upon the frame the base extending continuously beneath the track and rotary frame.

2. A portable turntable comprising a base of thin flat material adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track; a rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, said base extending continuously beneath the track and frame, rollers journaled on the frame over the track and parallel platforms resting upon the frame.

3. A portable turntable comprising a base of thin dat material adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track; a rotary frame having a partengaging said pivot pin. said base extending continuously beneath the track and frame, rollers journaled on the frame over.

the track, a platform resting upon the yframe and a runway pivotally connected with the end of the platform and arranged to extend therefrom to the ground.

4L. A portable turntable comprising a base of thin flat material having upturned ends adapted lo rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track; a rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, rollers journaled on the frame over the track and a platform resting upon the frame the base extending continuously beneath the track and frame.

5. A portable turntable having a base of thin at material comprising a plurality of sections detachably secured together, a pivot pin secured to one of said sections, curved tracks on said sections together forming a circle when the sections are assembled, a rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, rollers journaled on the frame over the track and a platform resting upon the frame.

6. A portable vturntable comprising a flexible base of thin flat material adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track; a flexible frame comprising extending arms, rollers journaled near the ends of said arms over the track and a platform resting upon the frame.

7, A portable turntable comprising a base of thin at material adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track, a rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, rollers journaled on the frame over the track, a brake lever pivoted to the frame, and a cable connected therewith and extending around the track, and a platform restingupon the frame.

8. A portable turntable comprising a base of thin Hat material adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto anda circular track, a rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, rollers journaled on the frame over the track, a platform resting upon the frame, a transverse shaft mounted on the platform, a roller on said shaft, said platform being constructed to form an opening over the roller, a sheave on said shaft, a cable over the sheave and extending around the track, a tension device for the cable and means for actuating the tension device.

9. A portable turntable comprising a base of thin flat material adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track, a rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, rollers journaled on the frame over the track, a platform resting upon the frame, a roller journaled to the platform, said platform being constructed with an opening over the roller and means for causing rotation of the roller to rotate the frame, a brake lever pivoted to the frame and a cable connected therewith and extending around the track.

l0. Aportable turntable comprising a base of thin fiat material adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track, a rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, rollers journaled on the frame over the track, a platform resting upon the frame, a transverse shaft mounted on the platform, a roller on. said shaft, said platform being constructed with an opening over the roller, a sheave on said shaft, a cable over the sheave and extending around the track, a tension device for the cable, means for actuating the tension device, a brake lever pivoted to the frame and a cable connected therewith and extending around the track.

11. A portable turntableJ comprising a base of thin flat material adapted to: rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured thereto and a circular track, a flexible rotary frame hav- .the track, a tension device for the cable and means for actuating the tension device, a brake lever pivoted to the frame and a cable connected therewith and extending around the track.

12. A portable turntable having a base of thin flatl material comprising a plurality of sections with upturned ends said sections being detachably secured together, a pivot pin secured to one of said sections and curved tracks together forming a circle when the sections are assembled, a flexible rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, extending arms, rollers journaled near the ends of said arms over the track, parallel platforms resting upon the frame, runways pivotally connected with the ends of the platforms, a transverse shaft mounted on one of the platforms, said platform being constructed with an opening over the roller, a sheave on said shaft, a cable over the sheave and extending around the track, a tension device for the cable and means for actuating the tension device, a brake lever pivoted to the frame and a cable connected therewith and extending around the track.

13. A portable turntable having a base of thin flat material comprising a plurality of sections with upturned ends said sections being detachably hinged together, a pivot pin secured to one of said sections and curved tracks together' forming a circle when the sections are assembled, a flexible rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, extending arms, rollers journlaled near the ends of said arms over the track and parallel platforms resting upon the frame.

14. A portable turntable having a base of thin flat material comprising a plurality of sections with upturned ends said sections being detachably hinged together, a pivot pin secured to one of said sections and curved tracks together forming a circle when the sections are assembled, a flexible rotary frame having a part engaging said pivot pin, extending arms, rollers journaled near the ends of said arms o-ver the track, parallel platforms resting upon the frame and runways pivotally connected with the ends of the platforms.

15. A portable turntable comprising a flexible base of thin flat material adapted to rest on the ground, a pivot pin secured there to and Ve erculantraekfe flexible frame conv.. armsbengaced oppostelyund conneetione` prsng .va ,hubmember, a ,plurality of, spaced@ between each strap ende smflalxstrap ion an pairs of radially extending, arms.bars .oonermof thefnext. adjacent parof arms.--, 10

nesting theend ofl each,par{0f,sad.arms, In Witness whereof, I have hereunto sei; 5 rollers near.. the. endslof.the:@Hugh-shaped.: my hand this 16th ,day of June 1919,.

strapswn which said vrollersefejournaled,

those aothe ,endsofieaoh-armzof a peilof CHARLES T.`TOPPING 

